Day surgery recovery

Anal Fissure Surgery (LIS) Recovery

Based on NHS, NICE, healthdirect and ASCRS guidance. General information only: always follow your surgical team's instructions.

Track your wound healing

Take a photo of your wound each day or every few days. The ghost overlay lines up your previous photo so you can see exactly what has changed. The reveal slider lets you drag between before and after. Bring the photos to your next appointment: your GP or surgeon will appreciate the visual record.

All photos stay on your device. Nothing is uploaded. No account needed.

📷 Open wound photo journal →

⚠ Seek urgent medical attention if:

Fever above 38.5°C / 101.3°F
Heavy or persistent bright red bleeding that doesn't stop
Severe, increasing pain after day 3–5
Inability to pass urine for 8+ hours
New loss of stool or wind control (incontinence) that doesn't improve over a few weeks
Increasing swelling, redness, or pus from the wound (possible infection)

Emergency: 000 (AU) · 999 (UK) · 911 (US)

Recovery essentials

Practical items that other patients have found helpful during recovery.

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Keeping the surgical area clean and protected helps prevent infection during healing. Non-stick wound dressings are gentle on sensitive tissue after anal fissure surgery. Wound dressings →

Postopcare.info may earn a small commission from Amazon at no cost to you. These are things patients have told us genuinely helped their recovery, nothing else.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is recovery from LIS (anal fissure surgery)?

Desk work usually 5-7 days. Bowel motions comfortable in 1-2 weeks. Full recovery and final healing at 4-6 weeks.

Is LIS surgery painful?

Mild to moderate pain, often less than the pain the fissure was causing before surgery. Paracetamol and ibuprofen are usually sufficient.

When can I have a bowel movement after LIS?

Within 2-3 days. Stool softeners are started from day 1. The first motion is uncomfortable but typically much less painful than before surgery.

Will I be incontinent after lateral internal sphincterotomy?

Major incontinence is rare (under 1%). Minor changes in gas control occur in 5-10% and usually improve over months. Surgeons tailor the cut length to minimise this risk.

Does the fissure come back after surgery?

Recurrence is uncommon after LIS. Maintaining soft regular bowel motions, treating any underlying constipation, and avoiding straining helps prevent recurrence.

When can I drive after anal fissure surgery?

Most people drive comfortably from 3-5 days, once they can sit without flinching.

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Your recovery toolkit

Free interactive tools to track your recovery day by day. Everything stays on your device — nothing is uploaded or shared.

Daily dashboardMeds, vitals & wound photos in one view Discharge packTurn discharge notes into a day-one plan Last-dose tracker“When can I take the next one?” Vitals trackerTemperature, heart rate, BP & oxygen Wound photo journalSame angle every day — spot changes early Pain trackerSpot the trend, share it with your GP

These tools support — never replace — the advice of your surgical team. If something feels wrong, contact your doctor or emergency services.